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1. 

   Down the Rabbit Hole

   A blog by The History Kid

   • 4
     entries
   • 9
     comments
   • 93
     views

   Recent Entries

   • "Just a Historian?"
   • Defining a Rabbit Hole
   • "Embrace the Suck"
   • The Obligatory Tour

   

   Latest Entry
   

   "Just a Historian?"

   In the profession of history, often times we encounter a few choice sayings that the general population has grown accustom to hurling our way.  Each and every time I heard one of these sayings, in school, I would get agitated.  Every time I hear the other, now, I get even more irritated.

   'You're studying history?  So, you're going to teach then!'

   

   I know this is hard for some people to grasp, but the history field has one of the most dynamic skillsets of any profession.  You require knowledge of literature, ability to conduct academic research, ability to write in an academic format, have organizational skills, have problem solving skills, be able to form theories with miniscule quantities of information, and - anymore - we have to be computer savvy.  We'll ignore for a minute that History B.A.'s are also a favorite path of law schools for perspective students.

   So, that means I could teach (if I liked being underappreciated and spit on by students and probably the administration).  But more likely, I could be a librarian, be a researcher, work in government (local, state, or federal), aid in archeological research, aid in academic research, write, office automation, office administration, secretarial work, archive, work at a museum, work at a historic site, work as a park ranger, be a lawyer, go into politics, work for a publishing firm, work as an appraiser, work as a historian or historic advisor...do I need to go on?

   But this doesn't bother me near as much anymore (mostly because I'm employed and am now at a graduate level - that question is easily shot down), so much as this:

   "You guys only have to study history though..."

   

   In my undergrad, I worked in the archive where I currently work (though I wasn't getting paid then).  Rather, I just worked in the archive and I don't just work there now.  Anyway...

   Part of my job then was to do the basic historians duty of making heads and tails of what was in front of me.  In my case, that consisted of reading through extremely elaborate and detailed technical reports on various weapons systems.  I read about ballistic studies, engineering reports, studies on digital azimuth's, fire control platforms, and various forms of climatological impacts.  That's just to name a few.  I was tasked with sorting these into a database in a searchable format that people could read and understand.  So, of the 2,500 entries, I had to read them all, make sense of them, and then parse them into something the general public would actually search for.  Chances are you aren't going to be looking for a ballistics study on a gun, but you might look for the firing range or angle of that gun.  I had to make sure that data was programmed and available.

   Likewise, when a historian takes on a subject, they have to assume specialty expertise on that subject.  For example, I could not write a research paper (25-50 pages) on the P-51 Mustang unless I assumed some sort of expertise on the subject.  I may need to know things about the Army Air Force, the Air Force, North American Aviation Company, aviation as a subject, and engineering - to know what the P-51 did that was better or worse than its contemporaries.  If I'm writing on the history of heart surgery in the United States, I am going to have to have fundamental knowledge on the processes and history of surgery and heart surgery (and treatments) in the United States.  That information isn't just present in the realm of history, but to the realm of medicine as well.

   A historian's duty, in a dull sense, is to know "stuff", and report on it in such a way that it remains replicable or applicable.  It is our job to preserve a period or issue in time and ensure it isn't forgotten, whatever the reason may be.  That means we learn history - not as a profession - but as a skill.  To a historian, our degree certifies a skill, the knowledge and specialty comes after that skill is procured.

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2. 

   Let's Create!

   A blog by Ryan Dave Jimenez

   • 11
     entries
   • 32
     comments
   • 481
     views

   Recent Entries

   • Making A "Mystery" Motion Webtoon
   • My Anime Recommendation Generator
   • My First Webtoon
   • How To Do Anime Recommendations?
   • I Hate My Anime List

   

   Latest Entry
   

   Making A "Mystery" Motion Webtoon

   I have been away from AF for 2 months. And it seems a lot has changed. I was supposed to put this in the Creative Corner but it doesn't fit there anymore. I guess that's why there's the AF Projects club.

   So I guess I will have to blog about current and future projects. Anyways,
   
   I am working on a new project. Basically, I want to make a motion comic. Or a comic book with some animation.  It's not really just images but it's also not fully animated. But instead of a Marvel / DC motion comic, it will be an Anime / webtoon motion comic. 
   
   It will be a mystery story so if you're reading this and you enjoy mystery Anime, reach out to me! I could use the help.
   
   I took inspiration from reading books like The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and the Famous Five.

    

   

    

   

    

   

    

   
   Here is the story synopsis:

   Quote

   The Hiroo Senior High School’s detective club is in trouble!! They are in danger of being disbanded for lack of club activity. For a detective club they don't really solve anything. Not because they're lazy or inept, but there just isn't anything to solve. That is until one day, when they find a mysterious notebook left behind by a student who supposedly transferred schools.

    

   And here are the 4 main characters (club members):
   
   Misao Takano. The sophomore leader of the detective club. She is a good and caring leader but sometimes can be impatient.

   Nara Hiruma. A sophomore member. The best friend of Misao. She is creative, kind, and cunning.

   Junichi Kai. The sole male senior member of the club. Junichi is constantly looking for action and adventure. He is also very frugal. Probably the most frugal person you will ever meet

   Makiko Handa. A freshman member. She is very energetic but slow-witted.

   
   
   

    

    

   I did not draw the background in this image:

    

   

    

    

   So I would like to hear your thoughts and if you have any suggestions for the mystery they will actually solve?
    

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